The Cusick Story
Tim Cusick is the Head Coach of the PGA of America Coaching Center at PGA Frisco, where he spearheads a high-tech, data-driven experience focused on coaching, club fitting, and golf fitness.
A PGA Master Professional in Teaching and Coaching, Tim attained the highest possible distinction in his field in 2018 and has been recognized as one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Instructors” since 2019. His transition to the flagship Frisco facility follows a successful tenure on the PGA Education Faculty, where he was instrumental in training the next generation of PGA Associates and University students.
Before shaping national education standards, Tim spent 15 years as the Director of Instruction at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas and previously served as the Director of Instruction for Hank Haney.
His deep roots in the Dallas Metroplex include over 35 years of coaching and a stint as the Assistant Men’s Golf Coach at Southern Methodist University.
A three-time Northern Texas PGA Teacher of the Year, Tim is also a published author, having released “The Four Keys to Improve Your Game” in 2015. Through his extensive leadership on national committees and decades of hands-on instruction, he remains a pivotal figure in defining the modern coaching philosophy of the PGA of America.
The Cusick Journey
My career in golf began at age 20 at Pinehurst Hotel and Country Club, where I spent nine months rotating through golf operations. It was during my time assisting the Golf Advantage Schools that I had the privilege of working alongside Hank Haney and Mike LaBauve.
I spent hours observing them teach golfers of all abilities. That experience evolved into a 25-year mentorship that took me from Phoenix to Palm Springs and eventually Dallas. The insights I gained from Hank and Mike shaped the teacher I am today.
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What’s the most important attribute any teacher must possess?
You can’t teach this game without being a great listener. As a coach, you learn how to teach someone by listening to what they say. Listening also shows the student you’re invested in their journey, not just their swing path.
Patience is just as vital because progress isn’t linear in golf. Everyone improves at a different pace and patience is what allows me to project confidence when a student is struggling. It turns a bad round into a learning moment rather than a frustration.
What starting advice would you give to someone who is relatively new to golf in regards to finding quality teaching?
Golf is an incredibly difficult sport to learn on your own, and frankly, it’s not a game you can master through YouTube or an AI app.
It’s tempting to learn from videos, but there is no substitute for an in-person PGA Coach who can see what you’re doing in real-time.
I always tell beginners to look for a coach or a facility that specifically has a proven track record with new players. You want someone who knows how to build a foundation from scratch, not just someone who can tweak a more advanced player’s swing.
What’s the breakdown in terms of time relating to learning the game — full swing, short game, putting, course management — that you generally follow with students.
There’s no set clock on improvement. Even for the most natural athletes, golf is a lifelong process. I like to build a foundation first—getting the technique and movement right for the full swing, short game and putting.
Once that mechanical base is sound, we move into developing ‘touch’ around the greens.
Finally, we take all of that out onto the course. That’s where a coach really helps you bridge the gap between hitting shots and actually scoring.
What is the more difficult assignment — teaching someone new or someone at the elite level?
It’s less about the swing and more about the mindset. I’d take a positive beginner over a more advanced player with a chip on their shoulder any day. When a student gets frustrated or negative, they stop processing information. You have to stop everything just to get them back into a positive headspace before you can hit another ball.
The biggest misconception students have about instruction is what?
The biggest misconception is the idea that you have to get worse before you get better. Honestly, that shouldn’t be the case.
With a good coach and a solid diagnosis, you should see progress immediately. Instruction isn’t about breaking you down; it’s about giving you the right tools to improve right now.
What are the benchmark signs the relationship between teacher and student is working and when it’s not?
It really comes down to the alignment of communication. Every student learns differently—some need to see it (visual), some need to hear the logic (auditory), others need to ‘think’ through the mechanics, and many need to ‘feel’ the motion (kinesthetic).
You know it’s working when the coach’s plan matches the student’s learning style. When that happens, the student maintains realistic expectations about their progress and the partnership is seamless.
Outline a few of the basic “quick fix” tips that students need to avoid implementing when seeking golf game improvement.
The biggest ‘quick fix’ to avoid is taking advice from anyone who isn’t qualified. Golf isn’t one-size-fits-all, and a tip that helps one player can easily ruin another’s progress. My Advice?
Find a PGA of America Golf Professional, trust their diagnosis, and stick to the plan. Beyond that, just be patient. Golf is addictive because it’s a challenge—be reasonable with your expectations and remember to actually enjoy being out there.
Best advice you ever received – what was it and who was it from. And the best advice you can give to a golfer looking to seriously improve their game is what?
The best advice I ever received, and the best I can give, is to find someone who has already achieved what you’re aiming for and study them.
Whether you’re learning to swing a club for the first time or lower your handicap and compete, watch how the best in the business operate.
If you can model your habits and your plan after theirs, you’re already halfway to your goal.
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